David Cameron today paid tribute to the way Machynlleth has responded to the disappearance of April Jones.

The Prime Minister told the House of Commons that the UK had been shocked and appalled by the events in Machynlleth.

He was responding at Prime Minister's Questions to the area's MP, Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies.

Mr Cameron said: "The whole country has been shocked by the appalling events but the country has been lifted and incredibly impressed by this community, Machynlleth, and what everybody has done to help the police, to help the emergency services.

"We've seen a whole community come together, not just in grief but in action to help this family and I think it a huge credit to everyone involved."

Writing earlier on his blog, Mr Davies had written: "I hope I'm called by Mr Speaker on Wednesday at PMQs so that I can ask The Prime Minister to join me in a tribute to all of these people.

"I've never seen anything like it, and through the tragedy I have felt humbled by the way the community of Machynlleth, the Police, the Church and volunteers of all sorts have come together in such a positive way.

"Nothing will ever compensate April's family for what has happened, but I think they will always be able to remember that the people of their town did everything in their power to help."

Days after five-year-old April's disappearance he described it as every family's nightmare and asked anyone with information to speak to police.

Mark Bridger, 46, has since been charged with murder and child abduction.

Dyfed-Powys Police gave an update on Wednesday on progress in the search for April.

Supt Ian John said 150 officers from police forces in Wales and England searching for April were replaced by another 150 on Tuesday. They too are from forces across Wales and England.

Supt John praised the blue light emergency services for their work searching caves and mine shafts, adding that the focus was still on Ceinws, where Mr Bridger lives.

The mayor of Machynlleth Gareth Jones has said it could take years for the town to return to normal after April's disappearance.

Mr Jones said: "There are small signs that the town is very gradually trying to return to some sort of normality but it is undeniable that this will take many months or years before we will come to terms with what happened."

He added: "Much has been reported about the strong community spirit in Machynlleth and how people turned out in their thousands to help in the search for April.

"This may be foreign to those unaccustomed to life in the Dyfi Valley but it is no surprise to any of us who are from here."